hope and healing for young and old. A worthwhile effort inspired by a scene from To Kill a Mockingbird. (Fiction. 10-12)
What at first appears to be a novel about average middle-schoolers and their tiny traumas reaches more depth as an
intergenerational study of likenesses and differences, standing up for oneself, and righting past wrongs. The rising action hinges on the advent of a class project in which eighth graders are asked to read to elderly shut-ins. As can be expected, the reading goes badly at first. Jenna shares with best friend Liv that Miss Caples, the woman she reads to, won’t speak a word; she just fixes her blue eyes and stares. Diverting, intermittent short chapters marked "Elspeth" provide a break in the action, offering an alternate point-of-view inside the mind and thoughts of the old woman herself. As the novel unfolds, Miss Caples’s story is revealed, sparked by a gallery of old photographs on the walls, and the parallels between the young girl and the elderly woman are effectively drawn. A subplot about the opposition by classmates Alec and Jane to frog dissection, brings out the best in Jenna and the worst in Liv, painfully alienating the main character from her long-time best friend. The exigency becomes tantamount to Jenna’s growing, empathic friendship with Miss Caples, as well as critical in her own route to self-discovery. A few inviting coincidences do more than tie up loose ends in both character’s stories; they grant
hope and healing for young and old. A worthwhile effort inspired by a scene from To Kill a Mockingbird. (Fiction. 10-12)Pub Date: April 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-8037-2502-7
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Fans of Cameron’s Huey and Julian stories (More Stories Huey Tells, 1997, etc.) are in for a treat as Gloria, their friend from those tales, gets a book of her own and graciously allows the two brothers to share it . In the first tale, Gloria makes a wonderful card for her mother, but the wind blows it away and it ends up in the cage of a cantankerous parrot. Thanks to Mr. Bates, Huey and Julian’s dad, the day is saved, as is the burgeoning friendship that Gloria and the boys have struck up with new neighbor Latisha in the story, “The Promise.” In another story, Gloria has to deal with a huge problem—fractions—and this time it’s her dad who helps her through it. Mr. Bates proves helpful again when the group trains an “obsessed” puppy, while Gloria’s mother is supportive when Gloria is unintentionally hurt by her three best friends. The stories are warm and funny, as Gloria, a spunky kid who gets into some strange predicaments, finds out that her friends and wise, loving adults are good to have around when trouble beckons. Great fun, with subtly placed, positive messages that never take center stage. (b&w illustrations) (Fiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: March 9, 2000
ISBN: 0-374-32670-3
Page Count: 93
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2000
A skirmish over a favorite stuffed rabbit nearly destroys a friendship and the toy itself, but well-timed physical and emotional bandaging saves the day. When a little boy moves in next door to a little girl they quickly becomes friends and start sharing toys. This works well for cars, trucks, bears, and balls, but when the boy shows up with a new stuffed rabbit, cooperation goes out the window. In the ensuing tug-of-rabbit, each child yanks on the poor bunny’s ears until the stitching gives way. Figuring out a way to repair the rabbit also eventually patches up the friendship. Minor battles rage in homes and preschools everywhere, so children and adults alike will appreciate this subtle example of a peaceful resolution to toy disputes. Jahn-Clough’s pleasantly stubby children convey both healthy loud-mouthed anger and substantial charm. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-395-93545-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
